Book: Land of the Beautiful Dead by R. Lee Smith
Reviewed by plotdrunk
Rating: 3.5/5
This book has been impossible to rate because there were parts that I thought were incredible and others that absolutely detracted from the story and character arcs. It’s ambitious, strange, but beautifully written, and I definitely see why it’s inspired such intense reactions.
R. Lee Smith has such a distinctive writing style, and I was completely immersed in the world. Lan is a complicated FMC, but I loved that she had a really distinct voice and stayed true to her character herself even as the plot progressed. Azrael, on the other hand, was confusing and morally repugnant until the bitter end, but I think he managed to redeem himself despite it all. He is genuinely monstrous throughout the entire story, but we’re never asked to forget it. Somehow, Smith managed to make me understand at least some of his motivations and ultimately believe in his capacity for redemption.
However. This isn’t a romance where two characters simply become progressively more attracted to each other. They challenge each other, hurt each other, change each other, and eventually become something neither of them could have been without the other. It’s got shades of Handmaid’s Tale in a dystopian, slightly magical setting, which makes for a strange but lasting love story.
My biggest issue was the climax. I saw where we were headed as soon as it started being foreshadowed, so I felt like I’d been beat over the head with the surprise twist by the time we got to it. For a book that surprised me so much with its characters and their relationship, I wanted the plot to do the same. Instead, the ending was signaled repeatedly, which took the impact away from what should have been the book’s biggest moments.
For all my frustrations with the climax, this book has stuck with me. I don’t think that Smith’s backlog is for me, but the characters and arc of the book will be hard to forget anytime soon.